Christina Chang: Mental health is not gender-specific

A still from The Good Doctor

Rumours of Christina Chang quitting the medical show, The Good Doctor post season four were put to rest when the network announced the fifth instalment of the hit series on SonyLIV. "I would quit if they got my breakfast order wrong," jokes the actor, who plays the character of Dr Audrey Lim, quickly adding, "No, I'm kidding. I have enjoyed my time here." In an exclusive chat with mid-day, Chang, who has earlier been part of hit series including Nashville, Desperate Housewives, 24, and Rizzoli & Isles talks about the role and the message they tried to impart through the show.

Despite popular shows like Grey's Anatomy already in its 18th season, Chang says she was never worried about the competition, but was intimidated for a different reason. "I probably felt intimidated by some of the medical jargon. I was concerned [that] I wouldn't be able to keep up with people. I didn't focus on other shows out there because this one is different, and has a unique premise," explains Chang, adding that the cast and crew made work easy.

The medical drama also tackled mental health problems when Chang's character takes up the position of Chief of Surgery at San Jose St Bonaventure Hospital. The position came with its own challenges of leadership, delegation, and of course, lawsuits. "It's an important point the show acknowledged. We also addressed [how it] looks when it's a woman [battling mental health issues] and how different it would be for a man. Wanting to cover it up might be a human phenomenon and not gender-specific. For any human being no matter how they identify, it's a tough journey," she says, giving credit to the writers for including an important message through her character. "The message we wanted to send was that Dr Lim got through it with the support of her friends and colleagues. So, get help."

Ask her if the entertainment industry has become more inclusive of people of colour, and she hopes that one day the question becomes obsolete. "There's still a [long way to go]. I am hopeful. There have been some significant changes being made and I'm proud of this show, platforms, and networks that are moving in that direction. My hope is that we continue to move forward."

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